Leon Harris

Some Lesser Known Facts About Leon Harris

• Leon Harris grew up in Akron, Ohio.

• In the early 1980s, he joined CNN Center, the international headquarters, as an unpaid intern in Atlanta while pursuing a bachelor’s degree at Ohio University.

• After graduating in 1983, he began working as a video journalist. He was then promoted to the position of assistant director in the satellite department, where he managed operations and coordination.

• While working as an assistant director, Leon handled and negotiated satellite services for news coverage of significant events, such as the Persian Gulf War and the international trips and summits of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush.

• In the summer of 1991, Harris auditioned for the position of an anchor at CNN. He was offered a full-time role a few months later.

  

• During his time at CNN, Harris won several awards, including multiple Local Emmy Awards, for his coverage of major events such as the 2000 presidential elections, the Oklahoma City Bombing, and the 9/11 Attacks.

• Over time, Harris became uncomfortable as competition from Fox News grew and CNN replaced familiar faces like Natalie Allen and Lou Waters with Paula Zahn and Aaron Brown.

• Leon Harris worked at CNN for about 21 years until mid-2003. His last role at the channel was co-anchoring the show CNN Live Today alongside Daryn Kagan.

  

• In July 2003, Harris joined WJLA-TV, the ABC affiliate in Washington, D.C., as an anchor for their 5 pm and 11 pm newscasts; he officially began serving in this position on 28 October.

  

• On 1 August 2013, Leon experienced intense stomach pain, which was later diagnosed as necrotizing pancreatitis, a condition causing organ failure. His wife rushed him to the hospital, where his kidneys shut down, and he was placed on a ventilator. He later required life-flight to Johns Hopkins Hospital.

• After multiple near-death experiences, including heart failure and difficulty breathing, Harris recovered by 10 August 2013 and returned to work at WJLA-TV on 9 September 2013.

  

• On 2 September 2016, WJLA-TV decided not to renew Harris’ contract, which led to the end of his tenure in October of that year.

• In April 2017, Leon Harris became a member of NBC’s WRC-TV news team, where he began co-anchoring News 4 at 4 with Eun Yang and reporting for News 4 at 11.

  

• On 28 November 2024, Leon Harris experienced difficulty with his speech while anchoring News 4 at 6. In December 2024, NBC4 Washington made an official announcement that Harris would take a medical leave to address health concerns.